Google’s Confused Voice Calling Tariffs

By Nick Clayton

With reduced rates that normally undercut Skype, Google has rolled out calling from within Gmail to much of the world. It has been available in the United States since last year.

The service, available in four currencies and in 38 languages, allows Gmail users to make calls to mobile phones and landlines. The actual charges are slightly unclear, partly because of varying tax regimes, but also thanks to Google.

The announcement was made on Google’s blog which says: “It’s now only $0.10 (or €0.08) per minute to call mobile phones in the U.K., France or Germany (landlines are $0.02/min), $0.15/minute to call mobile phones in Mexico and $0.02/min to call any phone number in China and India.”

Underneath is a link to the “rates page” which at the moment lists calls to U.K. mobiles as costing $0.18 a minute, presumably news of price cuts has not got through to everybody. But the page is also described as being rates for “Google Voice”, a service which has many features that are only available to holders of U.S. phone numbers including the ability to ring multiple numbers simultaneously, conference call and receive texts transcribed from voicemail messages.

Although Skype is taken to be the target of the launch, Google’s new service has far fewer features than its soon-to-be Microsoft-owned competitor. Full-fat Google Voice could be a contender, but, for now Gmail calling is just a cheap way of making calls to mobiles and landlines using a headset and a computer.

Comments (5 of 6)

Thanks for this blog post! It's nice to realize that there are men who manage to write interesting content on the Internet. ;o) Can I ask you on which website I could read more infos about the topic? Thanks!

5:03 am August 5, 2011

Vinod wrote:

Vincent, your calls are going for free....Guess, it is trial basis !

11:20 am August 4, 2011

janelhill wrote:

"This new VoIP service isn?t available everywhere yet. Google hasn?t announced which countries will get it first."http://bit.ly/r6tQNI

7:52 pm August 3, 2011

H PoDDer wrote:

Another sensational headline! But nothing to see here...

I have been using Google Voice (GV) since Mid 2009 to call India. While it was a relatively expensive option (6 cents/min) till they dropped the rates (to 2 cents/min), their call quality and ease of use are outstanding and competitive when compared with other providers (Skype, Reliance, Vonage Mobile, etc.). With a simple app (install from app store for BB & iPhones or available natively on Android), you can dial your phone book contacts (and even receive calls at your GV number - forwarded to your mobile). I highly recommend Google Voice if you haven't yet tried it out.

Rebtel is another strong Skype contender with quality service and decent rates. While I love it on iPhone, their BB app needs some TLC from an user experience designer and an user guide!

5:34 pm August 3, 2011

Vincent Paquet wrote:

This is a display issue, which we are fixing. Your calls are being charged at 10c/min
Vincent Paquet, Google Voice PM

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